Beijing, Jan 23 (IANS): A former top legislator of a city in east China has been sentenced to death for taking bribes but given a two-year reprieve, said a court official Thursday.

Zhou Jianhua, former chairman of the standing committee of the People's Congress of Xinyu City, was convicted of taking 99 bribes to further others' interests while abusing his power, Xinhua quoted Zhang Zhonghou, head of the Jiangxi Higher People's Court, as saying.

The bribes he accepted included 10.2 million yuan ($1.6 million), $12,000, HK$150,000 ($19,300) and three gold bars (each weighing 50 grams) and articles worth 236,000 yuan.

The first instance verdict by the Yichun Intermediate People's Court also deprived Zhou of his political rights for life and all his personal assets were confiscated.

Zhou, born in 1955, was elected to the top legislative post of Xinyu in September 2011.

The Jiangxi Higher People's Court is currently handling a retrial of Zhou's case.